Carry-on liquid limits: how much can you take on a plane?

Liquids on flights in and from Japan

On a domestic flight the 100ml liquid limit does not apply. On an international flight it does.

Liquids (the 100ml rule): carry-on and checked baggage in Japan
Where	Allowed?	What applies
In the cabin	Yes, within limits	Yes, within limits. On international flights from Japan each liquid, gel or aerosol must be in a container of 100ml (g) or less, and all the containers go in one transparent re-sealable bag of 1 litre or less, with a length and width of 20cm or less. One bag per passenger. On domestic flights this limit does not apply.
In checked baggage	Yes	Yes. Liquid over 100ml can travel in checked baggage. Toiletries, medicines and aerosols are limited to 0.5 litres or 0.5kg per container and 2 litres or 2kg per person, and alcohol over 70% is not accepted.

Domestic flights in Japan: The 100ml liquid limit does not apply.
International flights from Japan: Each container 100ml or less, all of them inside one transparent re-sealable bag of 1 litre or less, one bag per person.

Medicines, baby food and milk for an infant travelling with you, and special-diet liquids are excepted in the amount needed in the cabin: declare them to the screener. Liquids bought inside the restricted area after security are excepted too.

What counts as a liquid, and what is let through anyway

The 100ml rule covers more than drinks, and its exceptions are written into the official lists.

Anything that cannot hold its shape: Japan's list applies the limit to liquids, gels and aerosols, and also to articles that cannot keep their shape without the container. That is why miso, mayonnaise, jam, honey, yoghurt, mascara and liquid foundation sit on it next to drinks. The EU wording is close: gels, aerosols, pastes, lotions and liquid/solid mixtures.
Solid food and dry goods are outside the rule: The same list names things that are not restricted and need no declaration at the checkpoint: candies, chocolate and cookies, cheese that is not a paste in a tube, eggs, fruit, dried kelp, wet tissues and sheet-type facial masks. Powdered soup stock is excepted from the soup row, and solid lipstick from the lip gloss row.
Medicine, baby food and special diets: Liquid medicines, baby food and milk for an infant travelling with you, and liquid nutrition for a medical condition are not limited in volume. Only the amount needed in the cabin is accepted, and it has to be declared to the screener, who may ask for evidence beyond your passport and boarding pass. Medicine in bottles of 100ml or less inside the bag needs no declaration.
Bought after security, and duty free: Liquids bought at duty-free shops after departure procedures can be taken on board regardless of size. The catch is a connection abroad, where the next checkpoint applies its own rules. At Narita, Kansai and Chubu, duty-free shops sell liquor and cosmetics over 100ml to transfer passengers in a Security Tamper Evident Bag (STEB) that must stay unopened until the next security check. An opened STEB is seized.
Changing planes: each country checks again: Narita Airport applies the limit again to passengers connecting between international flights, and liquid beyond it is disposed of at the connection checkpoint. Taiwan applies its limits to transfer passengers, duty-free goods included. Hong Kong screens sealed duty-free bags with dedicated equipment. Australia applies the limits to transit passengers. GOV.UK tells travellers not to open the security bag before the final destination.
Airports where the bag can stay in your luggage: Hong Kong International Airport's smart security lanes use CT-based X-ray scanners, so liquids and electronic devices may stay in your hand baggage during screening. GOV.UK notes that some airports may allow containers that hold up to 2 litres. Both are local: GOV.UK also says to check the rules at any other airport you travel through.

Liquids: the rule country by country

The carry-on answer for liquids is the same in all 8 other places we checked. The limits themselves are not identical, so read the row for the country you fly from.

Liquids (the 100ml rule): carry-on and checked baggage rules by country
Flying from	Carry-on	Checked bag	What the authority says
JapanCivil Aviation Bureau	With limits	Yes	On international flights from Japan each liquid, gel or aerosol must be in a container of 100ml (g) or less, and all the containers go in one transparent re-sealable bag of 1 litre or less, with a length and width of 20cm or less. Source
United StatesTSA	With limits	—	3-1-1 liquids rule: liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, in one quart-sized bag per passenger. Larger amounts of medically necessary liquids are allowed if declared. Source
European UnionEuropean Commission, EASA	With limits	—	Hand luggage liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes: containers up to 100 ml in one transparent re-sealable bag up to one litre. Essential medicines, baby food and milk for the trip may be larger. Duty-free stays sealed in its security bag. Source
United KingdomUK Government	With limits	Yes	Depends on the airport: most allow no containers larger than 100ml, even if part full; some may allow up to 2 litres. All UK airports allow up to 2 litres for essential medical purposes, special dietary requirements, baby food or baby milk. Source
South KoreaMOLIT Aviation Security 365	With limits	Yes	International flights only: liquids, aerosols and gels in carry-on are restricted under the transport ministry's liquids standard. Checked baggage is allowed. Tell security staff if you carry liquids. Source
TaiwanCivil Aviation Administration	With limits	Yes	International flights: carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols must be in containers of 100 ml or less, all in one resealable transparent plastic zip bag of up to 1 litre (20×20 cm), one bag per passenger. Domestic flights are not restricted. Source
Hong KongCivil Aviation Department	With limits	—	Cabin baggage: liquids, gels and aerosols in containers of 100 ml or less, all in one transparent re-sealable bag of 1 litre or less per passenger. Medications, baby milk/food and special dietary items may be exempted on verification. Source
Mainland ChinaCAAC	With limits	Yes	Domestic: no liquids in carry-on except cosmetics (one per type, container up to 100mL), toothpaste and shaving cream (one each, up to 100g (mL)). International/regional: containers up to 100mL in one resealable 1L clear bag. Checked: yes. Source
AustraliaHome Affairs, CASA	With limits	Yes	On international flights each liquid, aerosol or gel container must be 100 mL or 100 g or less, in one resealable bag per passenger; inorganic powders are capped at 350 mL or 350 g. No such limits on checked bags or most domestic flights. Source

Each row comes from that authority's own page. Airlines can be stricter, and the screening officer has the final say.

If security in Japan will not let liquids through

What to do: Move liquids to the bag you check in before you reach security. Narita Airport states that anything given up at the checkpoint is discarded and cannot be returned.

Frequently asked questions